Admission to the Foster School of Business Master of Science in Taxation is for fall quarter only. We offer admission to those who we believe have the highest potential for achievement in the accounting profession. We select prospective students on the basis of their academic achievements, their ability to communicate effectively, and their record of personal accomplishments. Prospective students must additionally have well-developed language and reasoning skills.
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Application Process
Selection Criteria
Non-Accounting Majors
Application Deadlines
Applications must be submitted through the University of Washington online application by the following dates.
Domestic Applicants
February 15
International Applicants
January 15
All applications must be submitted through the UW online application. No application materials are to be submitted by postal mail or email.
Application Process
Ready to apply? Learn more about the application process and program fees.
Prospective students are encouraged to contact us directly if there is any uncertainty.
Pathway for non-Accounting and non-Business Students
Applicants that did not major in Accounting or Business may still pursue this program, however there are some extra steps required. Please explore our Pathways for Non-Accounting Majors section to learn more. We encourage any student to contact us to learn more about this pathway.
Application form
Fill out the online form completely.
Video and Written Essays
Complete both the video essay and one of the written questions below.
Video Essay
Assume that you have an opportunity to meet with the MST admissions committee. The committee has asked you to describe yourself, elaborating on the reasons why you should be admitted to the program. This is your chance to tell them about the things that are important to you, to give them information or insight that will convince them to admit you. Specifically, address your career goals in professional accounting and the relevance of the MST degree. (Limit to 3 minutes)
Written Essay (choose one)
1. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. (Limit to 700 words)
OR
2. Describe any personal or economic hardship/barriers you have experienced and/or are experiencing. Explain how the hardship/barriers directly affected your ability to be successful in your college academics. As hardships/barriers may occur throughout your life, be specific about when you encountered these hardship/barriers, how long they lasted, and how they impact your academic record. (Limit to 700 words)
The resume you include should be similar to what you use for job applications, including schools attended, work experience, internships (both past and future assignments), community and volunteer work, and skills. If you have an internship for the coming summer, be sure to include it on your resume even though you have not yet worked.
Transcripts
Include one transcript from each post-secondary school (after high school) you have attended. These transcripts must be uploaded into your online application. We do not need transcripts if you only attended a school for three or fewer classes or if you attended a study abroad program if the credits are on your degree school transcript. We ask that overseas school transcripts be in English because we do not use evaluation services. If you attended the University of Washington, you must still upload your UW transcript. If you transferred credits to the UW, you also need to submit a copy from each of those schools. Official transcripts will not be needed until after an admissions decision has been made and/or after your bachelor’s degree has been earned.
The GMAT is only required for applicants whose bachelor’s degree is from another country. The GMAT is recommended, not required, if an applicant’s grades are low (below a 3.2).
If you have a test score, please submit a photocopy of the test score you receive at the test center. When you take the test, inform the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) that it must forward your scores to the University of Washington. The Foster School’s code number is 459-75-41. We will hold your scores on file for one year. When you sign up for the exam, you will not see the MST Taxation program listed. We are currently working with GMAC to correct this. Meanwhile you should choose the MPAcc degree, and our MST admissions committee will be able to see your scores.
Include one transcript from each post-secondary school (after high school) you have attended. These transcripts must be uploaded into your online application. We do not need transcripts if you only attended a school for three or less classes or if you attended a study abroad program, if the credits are on your degree school transcript.
If you earned your undergraduate degree from overseas we ask that school transcripts be in English. We also required International Applicants to submit either a WES evaluation of your transcripts or a GMAT score.
If you attended the University of Washington, you must still upload your UW transcript. If you transferred credits to the UW, you also need to submit a copy from each of those schools. Official transcripts will not be needed until after an admissions decision has been made and/or after your bachelor’s degree has been earned.
List three people who are able to provide detailed information about your academic performance, employment responsibilities and accomplishments, activities, personality or character. We will only contact your references if we need additional information. We do not use an online form for references to submit their comments.
The demands of the MST Program require that all students have a thorough understanding of the English language. An English proficiency exam is required for all permanent residents, immigrants, and international applicants. The test is not required for international students who graduate with a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited English-speaking institution where all classes are taught in English. If you will graduate from a U.S. school, you do not need to submit English scores.
We accept the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Duolingo for the English proficiency requirement. We require a minimum iBT of 92 for TOEFL and 120 for Duolingo. TOEFL scores are valid for two years. Scores must be sent directly to the University of Washington from the testing center. If there are multiple scores, we will accept the best score.
Our school code is 4854. For more information, or to request that your scores be sent to us, visit this page for TOEFL iBT questions, if sending your Duolingo scores please contact them online here.
The application fee is $90 and is subject to change without notice. Applicants pay the fee by MasterCard or Visa through the online application system.
Since the UW is a state institution, program fees are usually announced in July for the three-quarter program coming year.
2024-2025 program fees for the year:
- Washington State Residents: $27,267
- Non-Washington State Residents: $29,997
The MST program is a fee-based program. Our students are not eligible for Washington State-funded programs such as the tuition exemption program, institutional tuition waivers or the Undergraduate/Graduate University Grant programs, including the Husky Promiseprogram. GET funds may be used but will only cover up to the undergraduate tuition amounts.
Selection Criteria
Admission is based on a number of criteria including:
Past academic performance
We review each prospective student’s undergraduate academic bachelor’s degree work, taking note of the difficulty of the curriculum and the scholastic quality of the school attended. We also consider the applicant’s post-baccalaureate academic experience. Your bachelor’s degree must be completed by the September of the year in which you wish to start the MPAcc Program. Grades are considered at the time of the application deadline. When you report your last two years of grades on your application, this is a university requirement and does not have to be exact. New grades will only be considered for satisfying class and degree requirements but will not be added to the application GPA. Grades from more than one school must be submitted as separate transcripts. We do not review transfer credits that have been reported on a different school’s transcript.
Prerequisites
Satisfactory completion of prerequisite accounting major classes before the September in which you wish to start the program. We must see grades from at least three intermediate-level accounting courses in order to make an admissions decision.
English Proficiency
International students, immigrants, and permanent residents must submit English test scores of at least 92 for TOEFL or 120 for Duolingo. English test scores are not required if you receive a bachelor degree from a U.S. university or attended a university where all of the classes were taught in English.
Communication Skills
The required essays demonstrate each applicant’s level of writing competence, as well as his or her ability to think through issues.
Internship and/or work experience
Please include on your resume even if you haven’t started work yet. Work experience is not required for admission.
Managerial potential
We assess each prospective student’s level of managerial responsibility by examining his or her accomplishments in school, community activities and work experience.
In selecting the entering class, the school also strives to create an environment that fosters a rich and satisfying learning experience and is representative of society as a whole. We believe that a diverse student body helps create such an environment.
Non-Accounting Majors
- A recognized bachelor’s degree
- 36 quarter credits (24 semester) of accounting classes, 23 quarter credits (15 semester) of those credits must be upper division (300 level or higher)
- 36 quarter credits (24 semester) of business administration credits
- 225 quarter credits (150 semester)
- For the most up-to-date information, please visit the State Board of Accountancy website
These requirements are important to keep in mind, especially if your undergraduate degree is in something other than Accounting.
- To meet the accounting prerequisite requirements for either program, students might consider the Certificate in Accounting Program offered through the University of Washington Professional and Continuing Education.
- The certificate program is offered in a condensed format in the summer as Accounting 505. It is also offered during the regular academic year in the evenings and on weekends as Accounting 506, 507 and 508.
- Note that the Accounting Certificate program is a completely separate application and fee for students; it does not guarantee admission to either MPAcc or MST, however it is a great way to meet the accounting prerequisite requirements for those in need.
- Prospective students committed to taking the certificate in accounting prior to the next start date are welcome to apply to either program by the February 15th deadline. Successful completion of the Accounting Certificate program prior to the start of the academic year is required.
To learn more about this option and how it could assist your pathway to the MPAcc or MST programs, please feel free to contact us.
Financial Aid
Students in need of financial assistance may receive aid from the University of Washington, the MST’s designated scholarship finds, or both. Aid is available in the form of non-state sponsored aid such as loans, fellowships and scholarships. Very limited funding is available for international students. Financial aid candidates must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which can be obtained through the FAFSA website. To be considered eligible for financial aid, prospective students must file the online FAFSA form before January 15 for the coming fall and must be permanent residents, U.S. citizens, or hold a qualified status listed on the FAFSA website. Students who have just graduated with a bachelor’s degree may now file independently of their parents.
International students who receive admission to the program must submit proof of approximately $52,000 in financial resources for the year in order to receive visa paperwork.
The MST office will send out MST scholarship applications once admissions decisions have been made. Financial aid will be primarily based on the need for assistance from the information on the FAFSA application. The Foster School notifies entering students of financial awards in late May; the University of Washington sends notice of awards during the summer. Applicants who have not submitted all necessary financial aid documents or who file their applications after the January 15 deadline may not receive notification of an award before the MST program’s enrollment service fee is due on June 1.
Accommodations for Disabilities
The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office, 448 Schmitz Hall, at least ten days in advance of the event at 206-543-8924 (voice), 206-543-8925 (TTY), 206-616-8379 (fax) or [email protected] (email).
Equal Opportunity
The University of Washington reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity in education without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled Vietnam era veteran in accordance with University policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.